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3 simple tests that show how well you’re aging, which you can do right now

How fast you can walk in a short time can indicate how fit you are for your age.

Many doctors at longevity clinics swear by a simple five-second walk test to gauge a patient’s fitness and longevity.

“It tells me how well people are functioning, how well their muscles are moving and working together,” Dr. Sara Bonnes, medical director of the Healthy Longevity Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, previously told Business Insider.

To do the test, have someone time how long it takes you to walk a six-meter stretch on a flat surface as quickly as you can.

For adults over 75, finishing in under six seconds is considered good, while a time slower than 8.6 seconds suggests a person may be at risk for falls or hospital admissions, according to one 2005 study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.

3) 30-second sitting-to-standing test

What’s known as the 30-second chair stand assessment is a good indicator of strength, balance, and flexibility, Jennifer Tripkin, associate director for the Center of Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging, told Fortune.

It’s typically used on older adults to test leg strength and endurance, but there’s some evidence that it’s also useful for measuring athletic performance in younger adults.

The test involves going from a seated position on an armless chair to a standing position without using your arms as many times as you can within 30 seconds.

In a 2012 study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, participants who got a low score on the test were five to six times more likely to die over a six-year period than those with a better score.

How to do the chair test:

1. Sit in the middle of an armless chair.

2. Place your hands on the opposite shoulder, crossed at the wrists.

3. Keep your feet flat on the floor.

4. Keep your back straight, and keep your arms against your chest.

5. On “Go,” rise to a full standing position, then sit back down again.

6. Repeat this for 30 seconds.

According to the CDC, for women aged 60 to 64, a below-average score is 12, and for men, it’s 14. For women aged 65 to 69, below average is 12, and for men it’s 12.

Read the original article on Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/simple-tests-show-how-well-aging-do-now-2024-10